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03.16.12

Santorum Leading War on Porn

Eric Gay / AP Photo

Rick Santorum has finally figured out what's really destroying the United States. It's not the unemployment rate, or the rising gas prices, or even the national debt. It's porn. "America is suffering a pandemic of harm from pornography," reads a new message on the presidential candidate's website. "Pornography is toxic to marriages and relationships. It contributes to misogyny and violence against women. It is a contributing factor to prostitution and sex trafficking." And how, exactly, does Santorum plan to tackle the morally corroding pornography industry? Ban hardcore porn, of course. And he might be able to do it. "If the government wanted to aggressively move against internet pornography, it could do so," said UCLA Law Prof. Eugene Volokh. "Here's the deal: in most parts of the country, a lot of pornography on the Internet would plausibly be seen as obscene."